Alan Pardew was furious with referee Peter Quinn after his late penalty decision left Saints struggling to reach the play-offs.
Saints boss Pardew had been more than a little frustrated by Quinn’s performance throughout the match at Tranmere.
But he was left bemused and angry when the controversial award of a late penalty saw his side slip to a 2-1 defeat at Prenton Park.
Saints also had a decent looking penalty shout of their own turned down with Jose Fonte instead getting booked for diving.
The defeat at relegation battlers Tranmere has left Saints 15 points off the top six with a game in hand.
But with just 13 games of their season remaining, what was already an uphill task is beginning to look even tougher.
Pardew said: “You know when the referee’s lost it a bit when he starts giving decisions that are completely wrong.
“After he gave the penalty he gave us a couple of free-kicks that were never our free-kicks and you know he’d lost the bearing of the game.
“I spoke to him at half time because I was disappointed by his first half.
“I don’t really want to add any more to that.
“The team put a good effort in and didn’t get their reward.”
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